Debate Focuses On Racial Issues

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean fended off rivals' attacks Sunday night that his record lacked racial sensitivity and inclusion, declaring he took "a back seat to no one on the issue of civil rights."

But after Dean cited a list of high-profile minority members of Congress who endorsed his front-running candidacy, black activist Al Sharpton responded, "I think you only need co-signers if your credit is bad."

Racial issues were at the heart of the final Democratic debate in Iowa before voters begin the national nominating process in the state's Jan. 19 caucuses. The televised debate was sponsored by the Iowa Brown-Black Forum, which has pushed politicians to address minority concerns.

While racial concerns rarely are raised in the early-contest states of Iowa and New Hampshire, both of which have small minority populations, nearly half of the voters expected to take part in South Carolina primary Feb. 3 are black.

Eight of the nine Democrats seeking the presidential nomination took part in the debate. Only retired Gen. Wesley Clark, who is not actively competing in Iowa, declined an invitation. Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., is not campaigning in Iowa but participated in the two-hour forum.

Dean, who early in the campaign apologized under fire for saying that he wanted "to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks," said the biggest challenge in race relations is to "help white audiences understand the plight of minority populations."

Contending that Republicans use the race issue to divide the country, Dean said Democrats should focus on jobs, education and health insurance.

"When they talk about divisive issues, we need to talk about education, because everybody's child needs a good education -- doesn't matter who they are or where they come from," Dean said.

But Sharpton and Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina pounced upon Dean's comments. Sharpton said merely talking about race without pushing for legislative reforms would "trivialize our problems."

Edwards chided Dean that solving a racial divide is "not just about talk; this is about doing something."

But Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois, the first black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, defended Dean's call for an "honest conversation about race in this country." She criticized Sharpton for attacking Dean, saying the Democrats "cannot afford a racial screaming match."

Sharpton, however, told Dean that "it seems as though you have discovered blacks and browns during this campaign," noting that Dean had hiring no minorities for Cabinet positions in his 12 years as Vermont governor. The state's population is 97 percent white.

Dean cited endorsements he had received from members of the congressional black and Hispanic caucuses.

Dean found himself under attack on other issues as well.

Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri, in a close battle with Dean for the top spot in the caucuses, questioned whether Dean's newfound plans for a middle-class tax cut would jeopardize the solvency of Social Security by slashing payroll taxes.

Dean responded that his plans for a middle-class tax cut would not kick in until the federal budget was balanced. While Dean said cutting payroll taxes was "not a bad idea," any such cuts would be in the form of a tax credit that would not affect Social Security trust funds.

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts also contended Dean has "had it both ways" on the Iraq war. He said Dean supported legislation giving President Bush the authority to go to war but then later opposed the conflict.